INEC Deregisters Three More Political Parties

Despite the controversies surrounding the deregistration of 28 political parties in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday deregistered three more parties.

In a press statement signed by the Secretary of the commission, Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it drew its power from the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (As amended).The affected political parties according to the statement are: African Renaissance Party (ARP); National Democratic Party (NDP); National Transformation Party (NTP).

According to Mr Kaugama, the de-registration of both African Renaissance Party and National Democratic Party is premised on the allegations that the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the parties fail to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

INEC also alleged that the parties have “no verifiable Headquarters office contrary to Section 222(f) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended)” and have “not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies”

The statement said the National Transformation Party (NTP) was deregistered because the composition of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party fails to meet the requirements of Section 223(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) and the NTP has not won a seat in the National and State Assemblies.